VALLEJO, Calif- The Sonoma Stompers looked to get back on track at the start of the new week in Vallejo. They sent trusted right-hander Henry Omana to the hill who did all he could, but it wasn’t enough as Vallejo won the game 4-1.
Nick Gotta reached to open the game after drawing a walk. After reaching second base on a wild pitch, Gotta was caught trying to steal third. This one play seemed to set the mood for the rest of the ballgame which was an uncharacteristic one at best.
After 2 quick outs, Omana allowed a double to Nick Akins Sr whose grounder took a funky hop on third baseman Jacob Barfield, which allowed it to squeak down the left field line. Then, Graylin Derke poked a single to left on an excuse-me swing to drive in Akins and give Vallejo the 1-0 lead.
The Admirals got another in the bottom of the 2ndinning. Once again, after 2 quick outs, Omana Allowed a double to Matt Eureste to put him in scoring position. With 2 strikes Jacob Wark hit a ground ball to Barfield who threw it away, allowing Eureste to score, doubling the Vallejo lead to 2-0.
The Stompers got in the board in the top of the 3rdinning. after a pair of walks to Gotta and Rob DeAngelis, Chris Kwitzer hit a topper between the mound and first base in which he beat pitcher Mike Melendez in a footrace to the bag to bring home Gotta, cutting the Vallejo lead to 2-1.
Vlad Gomez led off the 3rdinning with a base hit but Omana quickly got a flyball and a comeback for the first two outs. Chevy Clarke then hit a TaylorMade two-hopper to Perdo Barrios at shortstop who watch the ball bounce over his head off of the lip of the grass and into left field to drive in Gomez making it 3-0.
Omana (2-1) lasted 5 innings an d allowed 3 runs, 2 earned on 6 hits while striking out 4.
Willie Ethington came out of the bullpen in relief of Omana in the 6thinning. with one out he allowed a double to Aaron Brill and a single to Wark to put runners at the corners. With 2 strikes a wild pitch allowed Brill to score, extending the lead 4-1.
The Stompers are in Napa on Wednesday, 5:05 first pitch, before returning home for 2 games on Thursday and Friday, both at 6:05.